USB 3.2 Specification Update Announced, Here Are The Details

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group, made up of Apple, Intel, Microsoft, and other companies, has today confirmed the USB 3.2 specification, which will be used to replace the older USB 3.1 specification when it is released.

The change will make provisions for multi-lane operation.

USB-C cables already support multi-lane operation for both hosts and devices and with the USB 3.2 specification, those hosts and devices can be created as multi-lane solutions, offering support for either two lanes of 5Gb/s or two lanes of 10Gb/s operation. Support for 10Gb/s effectively doubles the speed that USB-C cables are capable of.

“When we introduced USB Type-C to the market, we intended to assure that USB Type-C cables and connectors certified for SuperSpeed USB or SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps would, as produced, support higher performance USB as newer generations of USB 3.0 were developed,” said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman. “The USB 3.2 update delivers the next level of performance.”

The USB Promoter Group says a USB 3.2 host connected to a USB 3.2 storage device will theoretically be able to achieve a 2GB/sec data transfer performance over a USB-C cable that has been certified for USB SuperSpeed 10Gb/s USB 3.1. Such a solution will also remain backwards compatible with earlier USB devices, something that is vital in a world of so many legacy USB connectivity across many, many devices.

Those looking for more information about USB 3.2 will have to wait for it to be unveiled at USB Developer Days 2017 later in the year.

While the announcement of new USB capabilities may not initially be the most exciting news of the day, changes like this open the door for better, faster and more capable devices in the future, which is, without a doubt, something we should all be looking forward to.